ABSTRACT
Neuroplasticity is a change (either a strengthening or weakening) in synaptic efficacy brought about through experience. Synapses can be strengthened or weakened through a number of mechanisms, including changes in activation properties of ionic channels in either the presynaptic or postsynaptic neurons, changes in second messenger systems within either cell, or altered gene activation and actual changes in cell morphology, either pre- or postsynaptically. Changes in synaptic strength can be reflected behaviorally as a change in either magnitude or probability of a given response. The maintenance of these altered synaptic connections is reflected in what is observed as “memory” for the earlier experience.
